Creative Thinking Leads to Ad Age Honor

Fitz Maro

Joseph “Fitz” Maro ’11 is among 11 global “Creatives You Should Know” for 2016, chosen by Advertising Age magazine.

As the senior innovation strategist for digital ad agency 360i New York, Maro was recognized along with the agency’s vice president for innovation and technology, Layne Harris. Maro and Harris are co-founders of their company’s Innovation Lab, developing the technology to execute 360i’s ideas.

They enabled the Canon Photo Coach ad campaign, whose digital billboards gave real-time information to help passers-by take perfect pictures. They also executed a campaign for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation promoting Adaptoys, which allow those with paralysis to play familiar games with their families.

It’s not the first major recognition for Maro, who majored in business administration at UMW. He was named a “Fearless Thinker” by the communications industry magazine Campaign U.S. and earned a trip to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in June 2015.

The festival, in Cannes, France, brings together international talent from the fields of advertising and creative communications.

“Cannes is like the Oscars of advertising,” Maro said at the time. “It’s the holy grail of getting to see and meet industry luminaries and top celebrity talent.”